How did you find and how long did you wait for your builder?

[PippaFawcett]

We are struggling to find a builder for our home renovation. It isn't an extension so I think for many people it is quite a small job, but lots of disruption for us! We have worked our way through two recommeded builders, as in gone through the quote process only to end up not proceeding. We have another coming out next week who warned us that he couldn't start until next year before he came out. I suppose that is normal for busy builders, but how long did you wait for yours? I'm so desperate to get going but don't want a botched job!

Ours came recommended by two people (one had used on recommendation of other, so good stuff). Started talking to them and some others in January, and gave them the order last week to start in September.
Ours is also some internal walls/ windows / doors / kitchen etc but no increase in footprint.

September start date would be perfect! I feel so frustrated because we have wasted most of this year waiting for builders to come out to quote, waiting for their quotes, then asking them for the rest of the quote etc etc.

Winter would be the worst time to have work done, groan.

We asked friends and family for recommendations and also went through our county council's recommended traiders website. Phoned around 20, 8 came out to quote, most of them sent a quote (of various levels of detail, and a bit of variation because as we talked to builders about what we wanted some made suggestions we decided to incorporate) Of those there were 3 that stood out that we felt we could work with. The one we chose to go with was available 6 weeks or so later, we went for a date a couple of weeks after that to fit round kids exams.

Don't wait to hear back from one before contacting another. At each stage of the process you'll weed out some who aren't available, suitable or compatible, so you need to start with lots. And start(if you haven't already) thinking about the fine details of what you want doing, visiting showrooms etc.